British Wool’s recent sale saw the most intense level of competition in the last decade. All of British Wool’s main buyers were active, with UK, European and Chinese-focussed buyers competing to secure wool supplies. All core types traded significantly higher, with the main grades of carpet wool trading close to 20 per cent higher towards the end of the catalogue.

Prices in the sale on the 7thof October increased by 14.2 per cent over the mid-September sale. Over the month the prices achieved in the British Wescool auctions have increased by 22.5 per cent. The trend mirrors the price rises that have been seen in New Zealand with global demand for quality cross bred wools outstripping supplies.

The average sale price achieved on behalf of British Wool’s members was £1.18 per kg, a marked increase over the average sale price for the 2024 season. Sale prices last season averaged £1.00 per kg.

Andrew Hogley, CEO, British Wool, says, following some very positive conversations with the trade, the sales team is confident the strong demand will continue throughout the selling season.

Sales in New Zealand over the last few weeks have also been very competitive with global market demand for quality cross-bred wools outstripping supply, he adds.

This season’s wool is also generally of a higher quality than last season’s wool. The dry spring and summer resulted in whiter wool this season with more of the clip being classed as a No. 1 grade.

Test results for new season wool continue to be significantly better than last year for colour, and British Wool continues to produce a greater proportion of No.1 grades in the core types, notes Hogley.

British Wool has received a large quantity of wool from new and returning members this season, but the overall volume handled to date is running around 2 per cent to 3 per cent below last year.

Improved prices in the 2024 season encouraged many farmers who had been holding onto their wool, or using it on-farm, to present it for sale this year, adds Hogley.

As a co-operative British Wool seeks to maximise the returns for all sheep farmers. With prices having shown a further improvement over recent weeks, the organization encourages any members who still have wool on farm to send it in before the winter.

Based in Bradford, British Wool is owned by approximately 30,000 sheep farmers in the UK. It collects, grades, sells and promotes British Wool to the international wool textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings and apparel.